Kanimozhi: ED chargesheet on sketchy material

DMK MP Kanimozhi today argued in a Delhi court that there was no “iota of evidence” against her regarding the alleged “parking” of Rs 200 crore in Kalaignar TV and Enforcement Directorate (ED) has chargesheeted her only on the basis of “sketchy material”.

Arguing on framing of charges and on the bail plea moved by Kanimozhi, senior advocate Rebecca John, who appeared for her, contended the DMK MP was not linked in any manner with the alleged transaction of Rs 200 crore from DB group company to DMK-run Kalaignar TV.

“On these very very sketchy material, ED has now turned this into a grand allegation against her as if she had done some extraordinary thing….Not an iota of evidence is there which will even prima facie show that Kanimozhi had anything to do with the parking of Rs 200 crore in KTV,” John told Special CBI Judge O P Saini.

ED had filed a charge sheet against 19 accused, including Kanimozhi and former Telecom Minister A Raja, claiming that the transaction of Rs 200 crore, which was allegedly paid to Kalaignar TV, was “not genuine” and it was a “bribe for grant of telecom licences to DB Group companies”.

During the arguments, John said Kanimozhi has been made an accused in the case merely because she used to regularly visit Raja’s office and was a promoter director of Kalaignar TV for just 13 days.

“Kanimozhi has resigned from the post of promoter director of Kalaignar TV after she was elected to Rajya Sabha. The decisions taken in board meetings of the company during her stint as promoter director were purely concerning the company and does not prove any illegality,” she contended.

John further argued that post resignation, she was just a minority shareholder of the company and had no say in company matters.

“Kanimozhi never visited the company after she resigned from her post….The allegation by prosecution that she was active brain behind the operations of Kalaignar TV is totally baseless. No criminality is made out if Kanimozhi and Raja meet each other being MPs from DMK party,” she contended while seeking bail for her client.